Emily Rose Casares American

Emily Rose Casares (b. 1995) is a California-based ceramic artist whose work explores themes of self-identity, mental health, and human connection. A 2023 B.F.A. graduate in Ceramics from California State University, Long Beach, Casares creates sculptural self-portraits that reflect her inner world, using clay, paint, and mixed media to express emotions she often finds difficult to verbalize. Her work serves as both a personal therapy and a means of communication, translating feelings of anxiety, insecurity, and self-doubt into physical form. "I use my creations as my form of communication because my social anxiety and shyness win the battle every time," she explains.

Casares frequently depicts the human figure, believing it fosters an immediate connection between the artwork and the viewer. Masks and spiraling eyes are recurring motifs in her work, symbolizing the tension between concealment and self-expression. "People often wear different versions of masks in different situations to become the person they want to present at that particular time," she says. "I hide myself from the world to cover up all of the things I feel insecure about, presenting myself as this perfect being who has no struggles and is happy." Her figures often appear fragmented or incomplete, reflecting the ongoing journey of self-acceptance and the complexities of self-perception.

Nature also plays a significant role in Casares’ work, mirroring the emotional landscape she navigates. "I combine human figures with plants and elements of nature because I often try to present myself as this calm and together person, but on the inside, all my fears and anxieties are running wild." She embraces the chaotic, untamed aspects of the natural world, using vines, flowers, and organic forms to symbolize the interplay between inner turmoil and outward composure.

Casares has exhibited widely across California, including It’s All In My Head... (BFA Thesis Exhibition, Long Beach, 2022), Clownin’ With The Homies (Hive Gallery, Los Angeles, 2023), and Made In California (Brea Gallery, 2023). In 2025, she will be featured in a two-person exhibition alongside Fernando Reyes at Pamela Walsh Gallery in Palo Alto. A recipient of the William Lee Scholarship from Trendspot Inc. (2022), Casares continues to push the boundaries of contemporary ceramics, using her work as a means of self-discovery, emotional expression, and healing. Through her art, she transforms deeply personal struggles into shared experiences, inviting viewers to find their own reflections in her work.